My Dad the Bounty Hunter

My Dad the Bounty Hunter is an American computer-animated science fiction adventure action-comedy series by Everett Downing Jr. and Patrick Harpin for Netflix.[3] The series premiered on February 9, 2023.[4]

My Dad the Bounty Hunter
Genre
Created by
  • Everett Downing Jr.
  • Patrick Harpin
Written by
  • Everett Downing Jr.
  • Patrick Harpin
Story byJuston Gordon-Montgomery
Creative directorAlex Konstad
Voices of
ComposerJoshua Mosley
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes10
Production
Executive producers
  • Everett Downing Jr.
  • Patrick Harpin
Running time22 minutes[2]
Production companies
Release
Original networkNetflix
Picture format16:9 HD
Audio formatDolby Digital
Original releaseFebruary 9, 2023 (2023-02-09) –
present

The series received positive reviews for its relatable story, likable characters, social commentary, and portrayal of Black families. The first season was released in its entirety on February 9, 2023.[5][6]

Premise

The series follows the story of Terry, who is followed by his kids, Lisa and Sean, who learn he is a bounty hunter, and drawn into a space adventure of sorts.[7][3][8]

Cast

Main
  • Laz Alonso[2] as Terry / Sabo Brok; Father of Lisa and Sean, and secretly conceals his job as a bounty hunter named Sabo Brok from his children and his wife, Tess.
  • Priah Ferguson[9] as Lisa; Daughter of Terry and sister of Sean. She is intelligent, sassy, quick witted, and when she sets her mind to anything, she is determined to finish it. Ferguson said that she had no say in the character design, but described Lisa as "so cute" and was impressed animators "even got her edges, the braids, [and] her baby hair".[10]
  • JeCobi Swain[9] as Sean; Brother of Lisa and son of Terry. He is nerdy and can become anxious, causing his eye to twitch. According to Downing Jr., Sean's physical condition was inspired by his own daughter's condition.[3]

Recurring
  • Yvonne Orji[2] as Tess; she is the wife of Terry and mother of Lisa and Sean. She is estranged from Terry. According to Downing Jr., the pigmentation of her character matches Orji in real life.[3]
  • Yvette Nicole Brown[2] as KRS; a robotic assistant.
  • Rob Riggle[2] as Glorlox; an alien and Terry's former business partner.
  • Maddie Taylor[9] as Torga; she is part of Glorox's crew.
  • Everett Downing Jr.[9] as Bogdog; He is part of Glorox's crew and Sean’s rival
  • Kari Wahlgren[9] as Lootbat; she is part of Glorox's crew.
  • Jamie Chung[9][2] as Vax; she is the top bounty of Sabo.
  • Jim Rash[2] as Fixer; he is the enforcer for the Endless Horizons Conglomerate (EHC). At the end of season 1 he was killed by Terry's family and told them that the Conglomerate will get them.
  • Leslie Uggams[2] as Grandma; she is the mother of Terry and grandmother of his kids.

Guest role
  • Patrick Harpin[11] as Blobby, Darren, and Reggie the Janitor.
  • Devin Bright[11] as Damian; Video gamer who plays Sean in episode 1.
  • Wahlgren[11] as Mike; Video gamer who plays Sean in episode 1.
  • Rash[11] as Video game announcer

Episodes

Season 1 (2023)
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date [5]
1"The Bounty Hunter"Everett Downing Jr., Patrick Harpin, and Kenji Ono (supervising director)Everett Downing Jr., Shakira Pressley, and Patrick HarpinFebruary 9, 2023 (2023-02-09)
Terry hunts down a liquid-alien fugitive named Meethal Raythox. Back on Earth, Lisa exacts a virtual revenge on a group of video gamers who expel her brother Sean from their group during a video game match. Later, their mother Tess takes them to spend the weekend with their father Terry, whom she is separated from. After the Endless Horizons Conglomerate (EHC) agent Fixer recruits a reluctant Terry to hunt down a new bounty, the children stowaway in his car but find themselves in a spaceship. The siblings are chased by Terry's robotic assistant KRS. After encountering their father and learning about his secret job, they narrowly escape colliding with asteroids.
2"Bucky Quanto's"Everett Downing Jr., Patrick Harpin, and Kenji Ono (supervising director)Everett Downing Jr. and Patrick HarpinFebruary 9, 2023 (2023-02-09)
Terry brings Lisa and Sean with him to Bucky Quanto's, his favorite restaurant in the galaxy, said to have legendary wings. Against Terry's orders, Lisa and Sean sneak into the restaurant disguised as an alien and robot respectively. Terry meets with a contact named Kryll, seeking information on a bounty named Vax. Terry later interrogates Kryll in the toilet and learns that Vax is headed to Chillion 5. Meanwhile, Lisa wins a gambling game with Terry's estranged associate Glorlox. Unwilling to accept defeat, Glorlox instigates a fight with Terry, which descends into a brawl. As a result of the brawl, Terry is banned from Bucky Quanto's for life. Taking the kids along, Terry embarks on his hunt for Vax but is trailed by Glorlox.
3"Pit Stop"Vince Aparo and Kenji Ono (supervising director)Adele WilliamsFebruary 9, 2023 (2023-02-09)
Sean, Lisa, and Terry make a pit stop at an interstellar convenience store to stock up on groceries. While Terry chats with Tess, Sean befriends the robotic store manager Karl and teaches him about fun. While exploring the store, the two encounter several predatory spider-like aliens, who have devoured other robots. Meanwhile, Lisa, who is angry and frustrated with her father, confides in a mysterious stranger, who turns out to be the fugitive Vax. Terry recognizes Vax and engages in a fight with her. Before he can overpower her, he is distracted by Sean and Lisa, who have come under attack from the spiders. Sean rescues his children and they escape aboard Terry's starship. However, Sean damages one of the KRS's starship wings while using a laser cannon to fight off the spider aliens.
4"Pulga"Ian Abando and Kenji Ono (supervising director)Patrick HarpinFebruary 9, 2023 (2023-02-09)
After landing on the planet Pulga, Terry along with Lisa and Sean visit a local settlement to obtain a sparepart for KRS's damaged starship wing. Despite Terry's orders, Lisa and Sean go off on their own. While Lisa has her chicken bite stolen by a con artist, Sean befriends a dog-like moog and gets involved in a gladiatorial fight with another robotm order to obtain the sparepart. Glorlox and his associates Lootbat and Bogdog pursue Terry, seeking information about his bounty. Lisa and Sean help their father escape by distracting Glorlox's associates. Terry and the children escape after Glorlox offends the locals by hurting a moog, which the locals revere.
5"Chillion-5"Ian Abando and Kenji Ono (supervising director)Shakira PressleyFebruary 9, 2023 (2023-02-09)
Terry tells his kids that they are going to "Chilla World," a Conglomerate-run theme park and zoo known as the "happiest place" in entire galaxy. While "Chilla World" claims to be a refuge for the near-extinct diminutive feline Chilla species, Lisa learns that the Conglomerate is forcing Chilla slaves to extract ore from underground mines beneath the zoo. When Lisa tells her dad, Terry is indifferent and states that his sole concerns are working for the Conglomerate and protecting his children. While browsing through the theme park, Lisa encounters Vax, whom she discovers to be the leader of a group of freedom fighters seeking to liberate the Chillas.
6"Chillion-5 Part 2: Rise of the Chillas"Kai Akira and Kenji Ono (supervising director)Eric RiveraFebruary 9, 2023 (2023-02-09)
Sean spends time with his father Terry and discusses the latter's difficult relationship with Lisa. Meanwhile, Vax interrogates Lisa, who claims to be an estranged former associate of "Sabo Brok." Satisfied, Vax allows her to join her group of freedom fighters which consists of Setelva and McKoren. While Lisa infiltrates the control room and releases the zoo animas, Vax and her team infiltrate the mines and disable the collar generators, freeing the Chillas. After overpowering the guards, Lisa and the freedom fighters flee the zoo with the liberated Chillas, who are led by Chakalau. While fleeing into the forest, Conglomerate forces arrive. Though the freedom fighters and Chillas split up, Vax is captured by Terry. Lisa is shocked to discover the extent of her father's involvement with the Conglomerate.
7"Planet Fall"Cole Harrington and Kenji Ono (supervising director)Juston Gordon-MontgomeryFebruary 9, 2023 (2023-02-09)
Following Vax's capture, Lisa argues with Terry that Vax is not a criminal. Terry defends his work as a bounty hunter for the Conglomerate by arguing that his work supports their basic needs, housing, and schooling. Feeling uneasy about his work, Terry questions the Fixer who reveals that Vax was a former Conglomerate security worker who became disillusioned with the company's exploitative activities. Lisa frees Vax and they escape in a shuttle with Sean. Terry and KRS pursue the stolen shuttle into a sulfuric gas storm above Chillion 5's upper atmosphere. Their chase is complicated by the arrival of Glorlox and his minions. Following a dogfight, Glorlox traps Vax's shuttle in a tractor beam and shoots down Terry's ship, seemingly killing Terry.
8"Bizarre Ride"Kai Akira and Kenji Ono (supervising director)Patrick HarpinFebruary 9, 2023 (2023-02-09)
In a flashback scene, bounty hunter Terry meets Glorlox while attempting to apprehend an alien fugitive named Zeno. After Glorlox gives Terry half of the cut from the bounty, the two form a partnership. Glorlox is troubled by his role in Terry's presumed death and imprisons Lisa and Sean with Vax. On Chillion, Terry is captured by the liberated Chilla tribe led by Chakarau. After Chakarau learns that Terry is Lisa's father, he and KRS join forces with the Chillas to rescue his children. They overpower a contingent of Conglomerate soldiers and steal their shuttle, which they use to reach Glorlox's starship. Meanwhile, Vax, Sean, and Lisa attempt to escape their holding cell but are recaptured by Torga. Disguised as Conglomerate soldiers, Terry, KRS, and the Chillas board Glorlox's ship. With the help of Vax, they capture Glorlox and his associates. Terry's reunion with his children is interrupted by the arrival of a Conglomerate starship.
9"Showdown"Cole Harrington and Kenji Ono (supervising director)Everett Downing Jr.February 9, 2023 (2023-02-09)
Glorlox and his associates turn the tables on Terry, Vax, and the Chillas. However Lisa, Sean and KRS are able to escape. Glorlox hands Terry, Vax and the Chillas over to the Conglomerate but is upset with the Fixer giving a 15% finder's fee. While Lisa infiltrates the Conglomerate warship to rescue her dad and the others, Sean and KRS outwit Bogdog and hijack Glorlox's starship. Despite being captured, Lisa manages to wadape with Terry and the others after Glorlox attacks the Fixer, causing damage to the ship. The two factions join forces to fight their way out of the Conglomerate starship. However, Terry dumps Glorlox and his associates and flees on Glorlox's starship with Lisa, Sean, Vax, KRS and the Chillas. Glorlox and his associates travel on an underpowered starship but attract the attention of a large space creature, which mistakes them for a mating partner.
10"The Bounty Hunters"Vince Aparo and Kenji Ono (supervising director)Shakira PressleyFebruary 9, 2023 (2023-02-09)
Following a victory celebration with the Chillas, Terry and the children farewell Vax, who has become an ally. In a desperate attempt to make it back to Earth before Tess, the mom of Lisa and Sean, they race through space. Upon arriving home, the children learn that Tess knew of Terry's bounty hunter job all along and that their mom is an alien whom their father met during a bounty hunting job. Having turned against the Conglomerate, Terry promises to quit his bounty hunting job. However, the Fixer tracks them down to Earth and attempts to apprehend Terry. Following a fierce battle, the powerful alien is destroyed through the combined efforts of Terry, Tess, Lisa, Sean, and Grandma. Despite the Fixer's death, his starship's beacon warns the Conglomerate of his passing.

Production and release

On October 29, 2020, Netflix announced that My Dad the Bounty Hunter had begun development.[12][1] At the time of the announcement, Polygon called it a "family-friendly take on The Mandalorian and said the show is "backed by a ton of Black talent".[13]

The series was given an order for a 10-episode first season.[2] The series came together after Downing Jr. and Harpin met at Sony Pictures Animation Studio, with Downing Jr. telling him that he wanted to do a story "with a Black family at the center as a love letter to my family", and they connected on "how real" 1980s sci-fi films were.[14][15] The series was animated by the French animation studio, Dwarf Animation,[16] Shakira Pressley was a writer for the series, as was Downing Jr. and Harpin.[17][3] According to Rolling Stone, the series had a majority-Black writers room, which included writer Tomi Adeyemi,[18] and is "a completely original story" rather than a IP.[19] Juston Gordon-Montgomery was the story editor for the series, along with Alex Konstad as art director, and Andrew Chesworth as character design supervisor.[20]

Before the show's premiere, Harpin told Animation Magazine that the show was crafted with the daughter of Downing Jr. behind, but was visually and narratively interesting to young fans, with an aesthetic reminiscent of Alien and The Last Starfighter which he and Downing Jr. liked. In the same interview, Downing Jr. stated that the show's production designer Yuki Demers was instrumental in the show's design, and that he was shown photographs of Black men and women to make sure the character designs were accurate. Harpin and Downing Jr. further argued that show’s "cinematic approach to storytelling" was important, and that they encouraged "intentionally cinematic style" so that the storyboarders and animators could be more creative. Both also noted they discovered "unique opportunities" for the show's team during "quarantine and beyond", and praised interconnectivity of those working on the show.[3]

In another interview with TV Insider, Harpin said they wanted to 2-D but it made more financial sense to do the series 3-D because they "wouldn’t have to build all those sets", but kept flashbacks in 2-D. Downing Jr. noted the importance of casting and that they wanted Priah to voice a character, while Harpin noted the challenges of recording lines because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[14] Harpin and Downing Jr. also emphasized the importance of their show not talking down to kids, but in remaining honest and true, giving characters flaws. When asked about season 2, Downing Jr. said that they would like to "focus on mom" and give her "a shot in the captain’s seat."[14]

A trailer for the series was released on November 16, 2022.[2][21] A second trailer was posted on January 12, 2023.[17][6][22] The series premiered on Netflix on February 9, 2023.[4][23]

In an interview with the LA Times after the show's premiere, Downing Jr. and Patrick Harpin said that the show's inspiration "is personal", noted the family dynamics in the series and sci-fi influences including The Fifth Element, Star Wars, Outland, and "wild ‘80s stuff for kids". They also noted that the Conglomerate in the show is like the "space colonialism" written about by Frank Herbert.[24] Harpin also told Rolling Stone that films like The Brother from Another Planet, The Incredibles, and Attack the Block were an influence on the series[18] while both show creators said that The Goonies and E.T. were further inspirations.[6] The voice actors Ferguson, Swainn, Orji, and Alonso also supported a possible live-action adaptation of the series.[25]

In March 2023, Kai Akari, a director for the series, told Animation Magazine that many of on the show's crew are "now treasured friends" and was grateful to have relationships with those Akari worked with previously "on other projects".[26]

Reception

The series received generally positive reviews from critics. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 100% approval rating with an average rating of 7.5/10 based on four critics. The website's critics consensus reads, "When a bounty hunter's two kids accidentally hitch a ride into outer space and crash his latest mission, they discover that their dad's job is anything but boring; dodging aliens and laser fights, this family's bonding time goes to the extreme."[27]

Megan Jordan of Rolling Stone argued that the series is an "Afrofuturist marvel" which tells a futuristic and relatable story that "center[s] Black characters while expanding the audience’s imagination", provides thoughts of what the world could be "in true Black sci-fi fashion", and normalizes "Black heroism for future generations".[18] Kenneth Seward Jr. of IGN described the series as a "delightfully charming, family-friendly space adventure" and an "action-packed romp through space" complete with corny moments, and "a slew of likable characters." He added that the series also hints at "various systemic issues" including forced labor, corrupt corporations, and the line between "willful ignorance and outright compliance".[28] Max Gao of The A.V. Club described the series as an example of the "intergenerational appeal of high-quality animation", including callbacks and nods to "classic sci-fi films", and has a "positive portrayal of a loving Black family...and doesn’t shy away from injecting bits of social commentary".[29]

Karuna Sharma of Meaww described the series as setting the bar for "great animation and an even greater storyline", and praised the series for visualizing each emotion of the characters and called it a "great learning curve for children" who can see the show's world "in all its color and glory".[30] Julie Sprankles of Scarry Mommy said that the series "channels the space adventure vibes from our childhoods", stated that the series is meaningful by "center[ing]...a Black family", and is grounded in "modern family dynamics".[25] Diondra Brown of Common Sense Media described the series as "funny", with a "start-studded and diverse cast", and having some storylines with "mild violence and danger" but doesn't avoid "discussing important topics" and concluded it was an "absolutely fun watch for the whole family".[31]

References
  1. Kanter, Jake (October 29, 2020). "Oscar-Winning Animator Everett Downing Creates Netflix Series 'My Dad The Bounty Hunter'". Deadline. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  2. Oddo, Marco Vito (November 16, 2022). "'My Dad the Bounty Hunter' Trailer Makes Catching Space Criminals a Family Business". Collider. Archived from the original on January 15, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  3. Nealy, Devin (February 1, 2023). "'My Dad the Bounty Hunter': Meet the New Space-Age Family". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  4. Stetson, Mark (February 10, 2023). "'My Dad the Bounty Hunter' — Everything you need to know". Mashable. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  5. Tyrell, Caitlin (February 9, 2023). "My Dad The Bounty Hunter Cast Dive Into The World Of New Netflix Show". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  6. Massoto, Erick (January 12, 2023). "New 'My Dad The Bounty Hunter' Trailer Reveals a Delightfullly Charming Animated Series". Collider. Archived from the original on January 18, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  7. "Cast of 'My Dad The Bounty Hunter' on Black Representation in Sci-Fi--EUR Video Exclusive". Eurweb. February 15, 2023. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  8. Sharma, Karuna (February 7, 2023). "'My Dad the Bounty Hunter': 5 best animated shows on Netflix you need to watch before space series drops". Meaww. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  9. Milligan, Mercedes (January 12, 2023). "'My Dad the Bounty Hunter' Official Trailer & New Images Blast Off". Animation Magazine. Archived from the original on January 23, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  10. Murrell, Morgan (February 14, 2023). "Priah Ferguson On Her New Series "My Dad The Bounty Hunter" And Seeing More Black Faces In Sci-Fi". BuzzFeed. Archived from the original on February 14, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  11. "My Dad the Bounty Hunter (2023)". Behind the Voice Actors. Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  12. Williams, Tommy (2020). "Netflix Announces New Animated Family Series MY DAD THE BOUNTY HUNTER". GeekTyrant. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  13. Marshall, Cass (October 30, 2020). "Netflix's new animated series has major Mandalorian vibes". Polygon. Archived from the original on January 23, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  14. Fishman, Scott (February 8, 2023). "'My Dad the Bounty Hunter' Creators on What Inspired Their New Netflix Animated Series". TV Insider. Archived from the original on February 12, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  15. Murphy, Jackson (February 2, 2023). "INTERVIEW With "My Dad The Bounty Hunter" Duo". Animation Scoop. Archived from the original on February 17, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  16. Lang, Jamie (June 22, 2020). "Behind The Scenes Of Netflix's 'My Dad the Bounty Hunter' At Dwarf Animation Studio - Video Exclusive". Cartoon Brew. Archived from the original on June 22, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
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  19. "First Look: Netflix Animation Spotlights Upcoming Shows at Annecy". Animation Magazine. June 13, 2022. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  20. Davis, Victoria (February 8, 2023). "'My Dad the Bounty Hunter': Representation Beneath the Skin". AWN. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
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  24. Brown, Tracy (February 10, 2023). "A new kids show needed 'palpable evil' to work. The answer: a Disney-like conglomerate". LA Times. Archived from the original on February 16, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
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